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Miracle man! Uruguay team physio delayed cancer treatment to help Suarez

He was the first person Luis Suarez ran to celebrate his first goal against England.

While his job as the Uruguay team physio means he is not a household name, Walter Ferreira is definitely a star in the eyes of La Celeste's talismanic striker.

The 63-year-old is suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a type of cancer.

Argentinian football website Diariouno.com revealed that Ferreira postponed his chemotherapy sessions in order to travel to Brazil and ensure that Suarez was fit for the World Cup.

The Liverpool striker underwent keyhole surgery after injuring his knee in training during his country's build-up to the World Cup.

The move certainly looks to have paid off as Suarez scored the two goals to keep Uruguay's hopes alive with a 2-1 win.

After the match, Suarez paid tribute to Ferreira, saying: "If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here."

Sources: NBC Sports, Diariouno, Soccerlens, Reuters

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